Opinions mixed on keeping Stroudsburg's temporary traffic lights

When the new Seventh Street Bridge opens, two temporary traffic lights will come down. While some think the temporary signals at Broad Street and Route 611 and the exit/entrance ramps for Interstate 80 are beneficial, giving them the green light to stay would involve numerous traffic studies.

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By CHRISTINA TATU

poconorecord.com

By CHRISTINA TATU

Posted Dec. 11, 2012 at 12:01 AM

By CHRISTINA TATU

Posted Dec. 11, 2012 at 12:01 AM

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WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY

Pocono Record readers sounded off on Facebook about whether the temporary traffic lights should come down once the Seventh Street Bridge re-opens. Opinions were decidedly mixed. Ten readers were ad...

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WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY

Pocono Record readers sounded off on Facebook about whether the temporary traffic lights should come down once the Seventh Street Bridge re-opens. Opinions were decidedly mixed. Ten readers were adamant that they should come down, 14 said they should stay and five had mixed opinions.

Here's a sampling:

I think they should keep the one at the 611 and 191 intersection, but get rid of the other one!

Natalie Miller Kish

No, the first time Broad Street has been safe for a very long time. The corner of Broad and 611 has been terrible for a long time people drive too fast. At least the lights give some control.

L Joshua Eikov

Oh my God YESSSSS!!!! Make everything go back to normal and get rid of that traffic.

Nicole D Samuel

Might as well leave them now that everyone's used to them, though some people are STILL stopping (as if there's a stop sign) at green lights at 611/broad. Sheesh.

Charissa Grandin

An inconvenience for some may save another's life. Keep the light at 80 and Broad.

Steve Leibig

Keep the lights! The 80/Broad intersection is way too dangerous without it. And the 611 intersection is better with the light. Traffic won't back up as much at the 80/Broad light once the 7th St bridge opens.

When the new Seventh Street Bridge opens, two temporary traffic lights will come down.

And while some residents think the temporary signals at Broad Street and Route 611 and the exit/entrance ramps for Interstate 80 are beneficial, giving them the green light to stay would involve numerous traffic studies and cost the Borough of Stroudsburg a significant sum.

"Most temporary signals are not constructed to meet the standards for a permanent signal," said Ron Young, a spokesman from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

"For a permanent signal to be implemented as part of a state road construction project, the municipality would need to request the department perform a traffic signal study to determine if the signal is warranted."

Prior to conducting such a study, PennDOT would need a commitment from the municipality that it would own and maintain the signal and possibly pay for its construction. Traffic engineers estimate it would cost at least $150,000 to install permanent signals in place of temporary ones.

The existing lights cost $55,000 to install and were never meant to be permanent, Young said.

They were erected to alleviate additional traffic during the 18-month Seventh Street Bridge replacement project, which left Broad Street as the only direct link from South Stroudsburg to downtown. The new bridge is expected to in coming days.

There has been no discussion among council members to make the temporary traffic signals permanent, said Stroudsburg Borough Manager Barbara Quarantello.

"I don't know if council will discuss it. This has not been discussed since the lights have been put up," she said.

Early in the project, one resident spoke in favor of keeping the lights, but borough officials haven't received any more favorable comments since then.

Quarantello has received complaints from residents upset about the timing of the lights. They say traffic sometimes backs up because there is not enough time for cars to make it through the green light, she said.

Stroudsburg Borough Mayor Charlie Baughman is undecided about whether the signals should stay or go.

"Any time you add a traffic light, it adds safety because it slows people down, but I wouldn't make an argument one way or another," Baughman said.

The timing for the light at the exit ramp for I-80 East and Broad Street makes it "impossible to get off the highway," he said.

Baughman suggested the council wait until the Seventh Street Bridge is open before discussing whether to contact PennDOT. Baughman thinks once the bridge is open, traffic flow will improve and the lights may be unnecessary.

Motorists filling up their gas tanks at the Sunoco on Park Avenue spoke in favor of keeping the traffic signals.

"I think it would be a big mistake to take them down. The one near the Route 80 ramp is vital," said Stroudsburg resident Jay Smith. "I've seen a number of accidents prior to the lights being installed because people come whizzing over (the Broad Street) Bridge without looking."

Stroudsburg resident Morgan McMahon and her mother Margie McMahon, both of whom live on Route 191, said the lights sometimes make traffic worse.

"I think once the bridge is open and the lights are gone, traffic will flow better," Morgan said.

Life-long Cherry Valley resident Brian Sommers doesn't believe the lines caused by the traffic lights are bad enough to take them down.

"I really think they should keep them up because they deter accidents," said Sommers, who must go down Route 191 and through the lights to make it into downtown Stroudsburg.

"I was really disappointed to read they are coming down," said resident Eva Haddon, who has lived on Route 191 for 17 years.

Haddon believes the lights are especially helpful at controlling traffic when there is a crash on Interstate 80, causing traffic to back up coming down Route 611 and Foxtown Hill Road.

"I would love to have those lights left here because they really, really help," she said.